FGSR Teaching Development Week. Session 2: Teaching in the Large Classroom. About Me

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1 FGSR Teaching Development Week Session 2: Teaching in the Large Classroom Alex Brown About Me Have been at the University of Alberta since 2003 Professor in the Department of Chemistry Have Taught First year chemistry (CHEM 102/105): students 2nd year Quantum Chemistry (CHEM 282): students 3rd year Physical Chemistry (CHEM 371): students Graduate Quantum Chemistry (CHEM 681): 5-10 students 1 2 Proposed Overview How do you foster engagement with your students when you have a large classroom? Dr. Alex Brown will share some things that have worked well in his classes that you may want to consider adapting for your purposes. 3 Future Sessions on Engaging Students Friday January 9, :00-4:00 pm Session 10: Engaging Students The Devil is in the Details Room: South Academic Building (SAB) 321 Overview: Active learning is a clear winner in terms of impact on student learning, but many instructors find the prospect of opening the floor to discussion among 100 or more students terrifying. In this session, details which make all the difference are revealed! Presenter: Dr. Suzanne Kresta Monday January 12, :00-3:00 pm Session 11: Engaging Large Classrooms in Active Learning Room: South Academic Building (SAB) 321 Overview: There is a belief that you cannot engage large classrooms in activities, and this may be the experience of many students. However, if you are armed with some tools and a willingness to try something different, your students will have a much more engaged learning experience. Presenter: Lisa Guirguis, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy has presented on a various teaching related topics for the University of Alberta. 4

2 New Overview Practical advice in dealing with large classes and, if time permits, a little about engagement. Have you attended GTL sessions previously? Have you TAed (lab/tutorial/seminar)? Have you given a class lecture? Have you taught an entire course? 5 6 What is a large class? What makes teaching large classes hard? What makes teaching large classes different from teaching small classes? Numbers of students (>100 up to 450 or more) Physical space for instruction Diversity of backgrounds (often introductory courses) Format for delivery (electronic, e.g., powerpoint, doc camera) What makes teaching large classes different from teaching small classes? Communication with students ( overload?!) Feedback (harder for students to ask questions, harder for you to assess student comprehension) Personal connection to the students 7 8

8 Benefits Instantaneous feedback: For both students and I Can motivate topics by asking introductory question(s) Student Response Overall, the i>clickers worked effectively Can guide learning through formative questions Can assess knowledge through summative questions Students know what they know and what they do not know (also can compare their knowledge to their peers) SD D N A SA Median PROBLEMS 15-20% active participation rate (students already have an expectation of what lectures are and are not) Needed to improve questions to promote higher-level vs. factual learning? How to strike the right balance in number and type of questions? i>clicker Year 2: CHEM 102 in 2012 Numbers of students: 320 Physical space for instruction: Classroom with Tables Format for delivery: Animated Powerpoint Feedback: i>clicker (participation marks) How much time is enough time to work on questions? How do I cover all the required content? 31 32

9 i>clicker participation grade Assigned as follows: (1) answer 80% or more of the questions during the term = 5/5 I have used an i>clicker before. A) Yes B) No Total = 77???? (2) answer less than 80%, (responses ) x 0.10 = mark out of 5 (3) Questions do not count on days: (i) at beginning of the course (first two lectures), (ii) when a substantial number of students cannot attend (iii) where there are technological problems. You must register your i>clicker! 33 Problem: Bookstore sold out of i>clickers before all 320 of my students could buy one Note: ~10% of students transferred out to non-clicker sections 34 Consider the reaction: The rate law is? A) Rate = k[no 2 ] B) Rate = k[no 2 ][F 2 ] 2 NO 2 (g) + F 2 (g) 2 NO 2 F (g) Majority were incorrect. Understand important points below. C) Rate = k[no 2 ] 2 [F 2 ] D) Rate = k[no 2 ] E) Insufficient information to know for sure! 2% 13% 52% 1% 33% Rate law must be determined experimentally. Not given by stoichiometric coefficients. (except for so-called elementary reactions ) Actual Rate law determined from experiment. 25 The Good 80-85% participation rate Student feedback generally positive Questions improved to promote higher-level vs. factual learning

10 Student Response Overall, the i>clickers worked effectively PROBLEMS (Still) Needed to improve questions to promote higher-level vs. factual learning? SD D N A SA Median How to strike the right balance in number and type of questions? How much time is enough time to work on questions? Solution: Provide 1st question to next class at end of class How do I cover all the required content? Solution: remove content! or move some content online Take Home Messages Teaching large classes can be just as fun as teaching small classes Be willing to try new things! 39

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